UK: Cemex quarry expansion gets go-ahead despite opposition

Cemex UK faces opposition to its plans to extend its Hyndford Quarry into a zone surrounding New Lanark, near the picturesque Falls of Clyde, Scotland. Campaigners opposed to plans to build a quarry next to the World Heritage Site have vowed to fight on after the scheme was given the go-ahead by planning authorities on the local council.

The controversial scheme was passed despite opposition from community groups and the reservations of 20 members of the Scottish Parliament, who signed a motion calling on Scotland to protect its historical sites. But Save Our Landscapes called on the Scottish government to intervene after South Lanarkshire councillors approved Cemex's plan.

The Falls of Clyde are surrounded by a nature reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. It is home to more than 100 species of birds, including a pair of nesting peregrine falcons.

Mark Stephens, chairman of the Save Our Landscapes campaign, said: “The landscape of one of its most iconic cultural assets is set to be destroyed for the sake of five years profits for a multinational cement company. This approval renders worthless the idea that planning in South Lanarkshire is governed by the policies that are adopted within the framework set by the Scottish Government.

James Simpson, vice-president of the International Council for Monuments and Sites, has also warned that the project risks undermining Scotland’s reputation for safeguarding its heritage.